Outlook: The Eagles' experience and strength will be in the back with Lochner -- a two-year starter at sweeper -- moving up to stopper and Rupp returning in goal. Graduation losses up front have left Linthicum uncertain as to where the scoring will come from. Lochner is the only player to score a goal at the varsity level and it came two years ago. "We're going to have some growing pains. I'm telling the girls to just keep pounding away and things will come," Linthicum said. While the offense works on finding an identity, the Eagles will rely on their defense, particularly Lochner, to keep them in games. "She's going to be the center of attention for us for awhile. It's her third year on varsity and we're going to move her up to stopper so we can have her pick things up a little sooner defensively and prevent teams from pounding away," Linthicum said. For the first time in his five years as head coach, Linthicum has two freshmen -- Melissa Merson and Sindi Stem -- on varsity. Merson, who scored a goal in a scrimmage, may see time up front and at center midfield with Stem able to play in back and on attack. They join sophomore defenders Vallie Lewis and Laura Stanholtz to give the Eagles a good young nucleus. Lewis is likely to start at sweeper. "They all have pretty nice skills and have worked hard," Linthicum said of his four underclassmen. "I really like what I've seen in practice from them -- they just go at it. I think they're ready. Before it's all said and done, they'll be heard from." Midfielders Teresa Stino, Moira Turner and Dawn Brammer lead a deep junior class.

Outlook: The Lions, who made a third straight state playoff appearance last season, start with 1994 All-Metro selections Clawson and Ziegenfuss in the middle and have a wealth of speed and talent surrounding them. Clawson will likely see most her time at center midfield with Ziegenfuss, who scored 24 goals as a sophomore, the main concern for opposing defenses at striker. "The center of the field will be controlled by Michelle and she will be our primary distributor," Martin said. "Shanna gives us a presence on the field and any team has to be aware of that presence. She has excellent field vision and is able to hold the ball and distribute well. With that we're counting on balanced scoring with Shanna getting her share." Dunham has stepped up her game this season and will provide leadership in the middle. The speed will come from Becker, Evans and Fincham with freshman forward Trish Young also in the mix. Primavera is playing more aggressively in goal, Martin said, and will have plenty of help in front of her. Gordon, an honorable-mention All-County selection as a freshman, will be at sweeper with second-team All-County choice Jones returning as one of the best marking backs in the county. The Lions will be without Haley DeLaurence, a first-team All-County selection as a freshman in 1993. The junior, who completely recovered from a torn right anterior cruciate ligament last year, tore her left ACL earlier this summer. Martin had planned to use DeLaurence up front with Ziegenfuss and called her absence a two-goal difference. A fourth straight appearance in the state playoffs will be well-earned for Liberty with the school moving up to Class 3A-4A.

Outlook: McDonald moves up to varsity after coaching the junior varsity the past two seasons, replacing Phil Myers, who spent 12 years at the helm. The Panthers have talent returning at just about every position. The top priority is finding a way to score on a regular basis, something they didn't do last season.

The team will be young with Crouse and Finch the lone seniors. McDonald is counting on his two co-captains to provide leadership and steady play in the middle of the field. Crouse will be at stopper with Finch at center midfield. "Christina has played all four years on varsity and has the experience and Kristen brings a lot of finesse. She's our ball-control person," McDonald said.